Brake Discs

[leigh1050]

Today I was going to clean up my discs after a suggestion by Snowolf [Mick].
Question is how do you get the plates off on the inner side of the disc.I had a look but can't see anything obvious to to unscrew or unbolt.
I did clean the outside of one with a rotary wire brush fitted to a drill looks like it will clean them off lovely if I can get to the inner surface.

[leigh1050]

On the side of the disc nearest the engine there is a big metal plate think it's a stone guard.
Are you saying I have to take the discs off to clean them?

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

leigh1050 said:

On the side of the disc nearest the engine there is a big metal plate think it's a stone guard.
Are you saying I have to take the discs off to clean them?

Yes, the main part that needs to be clean and flat is the face that goes against the hub, sometimes when the wheel is removed to have tyres fitted or pads changed, the disc can easily get knocked a bit and a small gap opens up and bit of crap falls behind the two faces and then the wheel gets put back on and then the disc will not be flat to the mating surface, there may be people that would disagree that this can happen but it can and usually does.

With the wheel off you can move that disc quite easily, it's only the wheel that holds it in place, just undo the two caliper bolts cable tie it up out the way so not to put stress on the brake hose and the disc will just come off.

O.k. thanks all sounds like its not that hard. Hope it's not raining next week I'll have another go.

[leigh1050]

mik_ok said:

Yes - its the stone guard you are describing. Not sure how they come off.

Pads out.

Callipers off.

Discs come off v easily after that. (At the front at least - not the rear as the handbrake shoes fight you.

Not sure as I've got handbrake shoes it's a vxr8 not a Monaro.

[leigh1050]

Little bit of an update.
Mick Stick100 has very kindly offered the use of his garage on saturday so I can now do what has to be done in better conditions than jacking the car up on my drive.
Jameshsv might be coming up just for a day out and to see Mick, best buy some Hobnobs.

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

That does make sense, makes doing the job a lot easier and good of Mick to help, where about is kicks garage, if weather ok I may have a run up and have a biscuit or four

Can never remember the address but I can remember how to get there.
I'll give Mick a bell in the morning and get his address

[leigh1050]

jameshsv said:

leigh1050 said:

Can never remember the address but I can remember how to get there.
I'll give Mick a bell in the morning and get his address

Dickermill ind est mill road hertford nice cafe 10 min walk away

Edited by jameshsv on Thursday 3rd December 20:30

Thanks James. I'll call you in the morning.

[leigh1050]

At Sticks now. Had one disc off and I need new ones.
Off home soon and get some ordered!

[leigh1050]

Here's a pic of the one we had off.
Looks nice and scabby.

[leigh1050]

mik_ok said:

That's even worse than mine were

I bet they are also "growling" when you brake?

That was after I'd cleaned it up a bit with a rotary wire brush.
Dont know about growling butI get a fair bit of vibration when braking.

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

I got as far as the M11 turn off when you got intouch, I did leave a bit late, would have been nice to have seen you both, been ages

If all goes well I'll be going back next saturday, if you're not working perhaps you can come up next week.
Was great to see Mick today and have a look at his TANK.

[leigh1050]

jameshsv said:

Wtf looks like those discs deffo need changing leigh

Yeah mate they're well cattle trucked, changing the whole lot and new pads next week hopefully.
Daft thing is the outer part of the disc that you can see looks fine.

Edited by leigh1050 on Saturday 5th December 21:02

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

It's always the inside of the discs that get the hammering weather wise and look the worst, yours look really quite bad, are they the original discs ? how many miles were put on them?

Yes mate they are the original discs about 48,000 miles.

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

Were the pads really low? if so while the pistons are out will be worth popping the dust covers off and giving them a clean and some Molycote grease, will sort a tube out for you Leigh.

The inner pad is nearly completley gone probably 1mm left.
I was thinking about giving the pistons a bit of a clean but I dont want to be taking the piss with Sticks lift and time.

[leigh1050]

New discs and pads fitted. Thanks to the two Micks Stick100 for fitting them and Snowolf for selling me the ones he had that are nogood for his genf.
These are one of the rear discs and front left, not looking very good. Pads weren't to bad except for the front inners which were shot.Oh and thanks Jim for keeping me company and only taking the piss a little bit.

Edited by leigh1050 on Saturday 12th December 16:26

[leigh1050]

mik_ok said:

The inside pads and disc surface definitely have a harder time on these cars - particularly on the front. Not sure if that is down to (lesser) cooling, but you definitely can't assess wear/condition by looking at the outside only...

You really need to remove a disc to see what condition they are in.As it isn't to hard a job to get a disc off I'll probably have a look at them in a couple of years time.

[leigh1050]

snowwolf said:

jameshsv said:

Those new discs and pads will last him a few years snowy

They should do, I measured them with a micrometer and no wear and genuine HSV pads so should be good as new, hope he greased the pins

The old pins came out easily,gave them a clean up with a bit of emery cloth Stick applied a goodly dollop of copperslip and in they went.